Wednesday, June 8, 2011 Day 5

I slept pretty good…got up twice with the help of my Mom, even though I HATE having to wake someone up just to lift my leg in and out of bed! At least when I called my nurse she was already awake. It is painful and sore when I get up in the night since I haven’t moved in a few hours and my meds are pretty worn off by then, but it’s manageable until I take the next dose and get back into bed. I’m sharing the King sized with my Mom and Kevin is in on the pull out couch.

I feel as though I’m sleeping a lot since I am going to bed about 10pm, waking up around 8 (with a few bathroom trips in the night) but then I am falling asleep until 10 or 11am! I slept a lot last time as well and I think a lot has to do with the medicine.

I had a little meltdown again today, but after that Mom and I took a trip down to the laundry room to do a small load. She wheeled my in the wheelchair…I was nervous since the night before she rammed my leg into the elevator wall! She ran herself into the door jam and I was cracking up I needed the cough pillow! We went back to the room, I walked around a little, then back to bed I went. Kevin is helping with my exercises but we aren’t doing them as much as we did last time which is not good! A lot of the pain I have is of my insides since I know they really dig around a lot when they’re in there. The visual incision is about 6 inches or so, but the cut they make inside is WAY bigger. So that’s where most of the pain comes from. Also, my tailbone when I sit.

My Dad came to Waltham this afternoon and Kevin went to RI for a bachelor party. When I woke up again Mom took me for a stroll in the parking lot (in my wheelchair) and it was nice to have the fresh air into my lungs, but boy was it hot! We sat outside for a little bit then headed in to decide what we would have for dinner. We ordered some food and Dad went to pick it up. I had some steak tips and rice and some salad. I went to the bathroom twice (BM) and went to bed about 10:30pm and Dad slept on the couch this time.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Day 4

I had a decent night’s sleep. Had my normal medication dosage and was able to sleep a good amount. I woke up fairly early and watched some TV as I dozed on and off. My nurse came in and told me PT would be in shortly to do my exercises and take me on the parallel bars.  She also told me Dr. Millis was down the hall and wanted me to get my xrays and get me out of here! He comes down a couple minutes later, I was already in my wheelchair, he grabbed the handles and ran me down the hall (literally, because my nurse Rachelle was running next to me!). We raced down, he told me I was leaving that day and I told him I didn’t want to, I hadn’t passed PT and my dad wasn’t here yet with his truck! He said he didn’t care but I didn’t need to stay in the hospital anymore. I was so confused at this point! I wasn’t ready to leave!!!!!  Kevin and Mom got there around 10am and I told them I just had my breakfast, xays and I was to leave that day! I told Rachelle I was going to fail PT so I could stay another day, she said hey, if you don’t pass that you can’t go home. I had it all planned out.

My former roommate, Megan, from my first PAO in January came to visit me today!  She works a few minutes away so during her break she came over to see me. I was SO happy to see her and felt so touched.  She really looked amazing compared to the last time we saw each other…although I was in the same spot she left me! She brought me some juice that is packed with nutrients. Such a great person. Soon after she came, my PT nurses came in to take me. We ALL (Kevin, Mom, Megan, Me and my PT nurse) all went to watch me walk. So I walked on crutches down the room and back twice. I told her I wanted to fail PT so I could stay another day. She said “I will pretend I didn’t hear that…but I can see you again later LATER on today to work on stairs” I was like sounds great, so by then it would be too late to discharge me.  So we went back to my room and hung out for a little while longer. My nurse didn’t realize you could feel the screws through skin since she sees patients that are swollen or just had the hardware removed, so she felt Megan’s screws and thought that was nuts!

After Megan left, I took a shower with the help of Kevin. I felt SO much better and it brought me to life!

The more I thought about it, the more I figured that staying in the hospital one night just to sleep may be a waste of time.  So I ended up calling my nurse and having her locate PT and tell them I’d be willing to do stairs and pass today. They took me to the stairwell, I did up and down no problem…so now I can go home. I fell asleep and my nurse came in saying to call her any time I wanted to leave.

We got out of the hospital about 4pm, with Mom, Kevin, Me AND my brother….in my little Fusion since my Dad couldn’t make it so quickly. We were PACKED into the car and it was difficult figuring out how to get me into that thing. But we figured it out and off we went. We sat in a bit of traffic where I found out that my bestest friend Jen was surprising me by coming to visit, even though I TOLD her to come!! She almost put me in tears!! But a little pre-info….her bridal shower was the day after surgery and I was REALLY upset I couldn’t make it. So I was really glad to see her! Such a trickster her and Kevin are!!!! We all ate dinner in the suite and Jen left around 8:30 or so. After Jen left the 4 of us played some cards and I was literally falling asleep at the table! We finished up, I went to bed and Kevin drove Mike back to his apartment. YAY! I made it.

Today was mixed emotions…staying in the hospital which is my security blanket  or leaving and starting my recovery along with all my stupid little meltdowns that are sure to come.

Mom and my brother in the car with ALL my balloons. :-)

Monday, June 6, 2011 Day 3

The dreaded Day 3!! Although not as dreaded as the epidural was already out. I think taking it out the day before and easing into day 3 makes things MUCH easier. You have more time to get the pain meds under control. Instead of epi out ta 6 and out of bed by 9! That’s too soon!  So the catheter came out about 7am! They said I normally don’t have to pee for a few hours, but it wasn’t out for even 2 hours and I had to go! So my nurse….whom was pretty good at first…turned out to be a moron. She didn’t want to get me out of bed since PT hadn’t done that yet so she suggested the bad pan. I don’t care, as long as I pee, and I pee quick!!! So she got me on it and then left the room!!! I’m hanging like some trapeze monkey! I was livid. The pan puts your hip at a awkward angle so it hurt and I was hanging on the trapeze otherwise the pan would tip over. She was gone for like 5 minutes. I could have shot her. THEN, pain management comes in and I’m dangling and she’s like omg are you OK, do you need help! He felt awkward because he didn’t know how I would feel with a guy helping me but at that point who cares! But he no sooner came in and she was behind him. I was like get of me off, I‘m done! Idiot.

I was getting nervous because PT was coming soon to get me out of bed and I wanted Mom and Kevin to be there. Luckily, they got there around 9:45am JUST as PT got there so they were my cheer team! She eased my leg off the bed while I shifted my body with my good leg (same as before). She was impressed with my strength. I had to pee so she put me right on the commode and right to the toilet. Kevin helped me as I couldn’t stand and whip (sorry). Then I came out and sat in the lounge chair for an hour or so. Dad put his Skype on and we could all talk to each other. I got very tired and decided it was time to get back into bed.  I told them I didn’t want anymore Valium since that was putting my into a deep sleep, giving me weird dreams and terrible headaches. So no more of those!

Early in the afternoon I went to PT and walked back and forth twice on the parallel bars. I had to focus on keeping my op-toes up and really trying to use that leg and not use my toes to walk my foot forward. I did great. After PT I was tired but we decided to take a talk down to the Garden since it was so nice outside! But a great idea. I was feeling really good and needed the fresh air. We found a nice table in the corner and Kevin ran in to get some cards, sunglasses and drinks. We were outside for close to 2 hours! I started to get VERY tired. But my wheelchair was pretty comfortable the entire time.

We met Dr. Millis in my doorway on the way in and he was impressed with my progress. He said to take a shower and if I pooped in the shower that would serve two purposes and I could go! Yikes, too soon, too soon. He asked if I wanted to go home tomorrow….uhhhhh

Dinner tonight for Kevin and Mom will be free in the cafeteria will be free as the last two days they forgot some of my food! The girl taking my order must have notified management and the manager himself came up to apologize himself! We have enough to worry about and not getting the correct food shouldn’t be one of those! He wants to make sure they are doing their job properly. So he gave them each a gift card for $7.50 to use in the cafeteria, not too bad!

I ended up going to the bathroom about 3 times tonight and totally emptied my bowels, gosh that made me feel so much better!

Sunday, June 5, 2011 Day 2

This morning around 6am they removed my drain. He told me it was going to feel weird, not hurt, just feel odd. Well last time I felt nothing and the same thing happened this time. YAY one thing, GONE! Things start to get removed now little by little. I slept pretty crappy, woke up every hour on the hour. Was taking Valium and that was really messing with me, none of that tomorrow.

Dad left to go home around 8am and Kevin and Mom came over around 10am. Dr. Millis came in around 11 and changed my bandage. No rubber gloves or anything! He is so amazing! He said I was looking good and that later today maybe the epidural could be lowered and start on oral meds! I couldn’t believe it, but let’s go! He also suggested I get wheeled to the garden later in the day. But I’m supposed to get my blood later on so I think that’s too much for one day. Plus I don’t want to carry my pee bag around with me.  I’ve been eating well. Yogurt and granola, some toast and a warm hard-boiled egg. YUM! This is much different than last time since all I did was sleep the first two days before and had zero appetite for the first 4 days or so. I’ve also been watching TV a lot which I didn’t do last time.

I started my blood around 4pm and she told me it was going to take 4 hours since it was whole blood and not just the rbc’s. She gave me heat packs to put on my hands to help the veins open so the blood could go smoothly, boy that burned! But I had more life to me after that!

Mom, Kevin and my brother went to dinner at Bertucci’s (since it’s the only restaurant close to the hospital) and stopped back afterward to bring my wheelchair and crutches in case they were late in the morning.

I’m getting SO full and bloated I feel gross. Nothing appeals to me, I just want to go to the bathroom! So during the day they ended up turning the epi completely off and around 11pm Pain Management came and removed my epidural. WOOHOO another wire, GONE!

However, today I got my period!! It always happens after surgery. But this time I was prepared! Surprisingly though, the meds were not helping with my cramps at all!

Out of bed!

Saturday, June 4, 2011 Day 1

So I slept OK. I fell asleep after my family left last night but woke up around 10:30pm and was WIDE awake. I talked to Kevin on the phone and was texting my Mom. I also had the TV on. This certainly did not happen last time, I didn’t know what to do! Hha

Two of Millis’s “assistants” or “fellows” came in today and didn’t know their ass from their elbow. One of them, Omar I think, was freaking out because only one of my legs was numb and not both. I told him that happened last time and I spoke to the anesthesiologist about it. He said ok..but came back later to freak out some more! I said it’s fine. Haha The next morning he asked “you don’t have a catheter right” umm, are you stupid? You do realize my epidural is in right? How do you think I’m going to get to the bathroom? So the other guy, I think his name was William, was telling me later than day they would start my oral meds, remove the catheter and get me out of bed the next day. OK, so I know medicine is constantly changing, but in 5 months it changed this much? Doubt it. I asked my nurse and she said no, it’s usually still Day 3. Stupid guys.

Mom and Dad came around 10am and Mom fed me some pudding, it sounded SO good to me all night. Millis came in about noon while Kevin was taking a shower. I also ate some ice cream with graham crackers, MMM! Tasty.

I am both tired and bored. The TV is on but nothing to watch and no one is really talking to me. I have to wear the white medical stockings that help with clots (didn’t have those last time!!!) I also had the “air pants” as my brother calls them that expand and contract to keep my blood moving.  They feel ok for a little while then I can’t wait to get them off and have someone scratch my legs.

Mike came around 5 and they all headed to dinner and came back after to say goodnight and watched the Bruins game for a while. They left around 9pm and I had peace and quiet.  I woke up often…around 11pm and again at 1:30am and in that time frame, two flower arrangements showed up in my room. I was too lazy to ask anyone to reach me the card so I left them until my family came the next day.

This surgery has already been so much different and even better than the last one, and the last one was amazing!!  I’m alert, have color, watching tv, have an appetite….just so much different than the first surgery! I can’t believe it. I’ve also had no fevers the entire time which was a huge annoyance last time.